2.5. SQL Server and SANs

Don't make the mistake of thinking that because SANs are big and expensive you'll be guaranteed to get good I/O performance. SAN storage design goals are often in conflict with those of SQL Server. SANs are effective at maximizing disk utilization by sharing a large central store of disks between many servers. In contrast, SQL Server benefits from striping over dedicated disks, with an emphasis on disk quantity rather than utilization.

This section addresses some of the common issues that DBAs face in SAN-based environments, including the relationship with the SAN administrator, LUN configuration, performance tuning, and disaster-recovery options.

2.5.1. The SAN administrator

If you're like me, you like being in control. ...

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